A lot has changed in the 14 years since John Nater hallowed the halls of Mitchell District High School (MDHS).

He’s been back to the school off and on since, of course, but when the current Member of Parliament for Perth-Wellington returned to chat and answer questions current Grade 11/12 law students had April 28, he spoke honestly of the day-to-day tasks he performs as an MP.

Wide ranging questions from the comfort of his chair at the House of Commons in Ottawa (very) to the concern over the rising national debt (also very) as well as his hopes for the next leader of the Conservative party (mandated to be neutral, he can’t endorse any one candidate as he is counting votes come nomination day), ended the hour-long discussion.

Nater spoke of his journey and how he travelled from the family farm outside Bornholm to Ottawa, London and points in between before returning to Mitchell where he currently resides with his wife Justine and two young children.

He entered the world of municipal politics, representing Mitchell ward as a councillor from 2010-14 in West Perth, and said those years felt “closest to the people” since the issues discussed most often effect people on a daily basis.

Compared to federal politics – after winning the federal nomination for the riding in 2014 – Nater said there is “slight more disconnect” compared to municipal life, not to mention the slower process of getting anything accomplished.

Nater told the students his role as an MP is basically twofold– one at home in Perth-Wellington and the other in Ottawa. While in the riding he is busy talking to various groups and attending community events not to mention answering questions from constituents through his two offices in the riding, one in Stratford and one in Harriston. While in Ottawa, he begins his day early, usually one hour before the staff arrives then sits in the House of Commons, on average, from 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. where debates rage every day. On TV, most people can see the question period which takes place every day at 2 p.m. which “the decorum is not typically very good” yet serves an important purpose in keeping the government and all MP’s accountable.

Vice-chair of the official languages committee (he finds it ironic that an Anglophone from rural Ontario holds this position), Nater said there are committee meetings to attend and, at the end of the day, voting. He described voting as a slow, regimented process which is done by role call and takes seven-eight minutes to complete one vote, stretching a long day even longer.

Nater also explained how laws are made (it was a law class, after all) and touched on Bill C-14 (regarding doctor assisted suicide) and the NAFTA agreement which has been brought back into the news headlines thanks to U.S. President Donald Trump. (“Not knowing exactly what direction he is going is not a good thing for Canada,” he said.)

Of local interest, Nater said the shortage of skilled labour in the riding is a concern and he is constantly trying to find the answers to the labour shortage and “fill holes” at key places in the region.

When teacher Karen Haefling asked his opinion about who he’d endorse as the next party leader, Nater said he needed to be impartial.

“I will say I didn’t shed any tears when Mr. O’Leary backed out,” he said, adding that he is looking for the next Conservative leader to be the one who can win the next election and be the next Prime Minister.

Nater added that it would be nice if the next leader hailed from Ontario since the party hadn’t had an Ontario leader since 1948.